The Grove A MAGA ZINE FROM PREMER A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE

SPRING 2020

HEALTHY AGING The right kind of exercise for you

MENTAL HEALTH Tips for wellness

SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES Premera’s Social Impact

RESOURCES Wellness info fast

052191 (05-18-2020) Y0134_PBC2522_M

The Premera Difference At Premera Blue Cross, we are committed to making customers the center of all we do.

This means being an expert in the field of health and healthcare so that we can improve your life and ultimately make healthcare work better. One of the ways in which we aim to do this is by featuring articles written by qualified experts here at Premera.

We are pleased to introduce Dr. Steve Jacobson, our medical director of government programs. His article can be found here.

Dr. Jacobson joined our team in November 2019. He is responsible for overseeing medical management and medical policies related to Premera’s Individual and Medicare lines of business.

Previously, he spent 26 years practicing at The Everett Clinic, where he also served as regional medical director in medical management.

Dr. Jacobson is board-certified in family practice. He received his medical degree from the University of Washington (UW). He also served as the family medicine chief resident and completed a faculty development fellowship at UW. He completed the Intermountain Healthcare Advanced Training Program in Quality. Dr. Jacobson received his master’s degree in Health Care Administration from UW and is a longtime member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Healthy Aging Exercises Regular physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your long-term health.

This is true at all ages, but unfortunately most of us are not getting regular physical activity. Physical activity tends to decrease as we age. Only about 30% of people ages 45 to 64 say they engage in regular leisure-time physical activity. This falls to 15% of those between the ages of 65 and 74, and 5% of people age 85 and older.

If you are not getting regular physical activity, consider the benefits if you start including physical activity as part of your routine, even if you are over age 85.

Improved sense of well-being and self-esteem

Increased opportunity to reduce or eliminate some medicines if you have chronic conditions

Improved sense of well-being and self-esteem

Increased opportunity to reduce or even eliminate some medicines if you have chronic conditions

Reduced risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes

Reduced risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes

As part of their Go4Life program, The National Institute on Aging has identified four essential types of physical activity and their benefits.

Practicing your strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility training can be challenging, especially if you don’t know where or how to start. Premera Medicare Advantage plan members have access to the no-cost Silver&Fit® membership which includes a Home Fitness Program. Members can choose up to two home fitness kits each benefit year from 35 unique options, including Aquatic Exercise, Chair Aerobics, Tai Chi, Yoga, and a Fitbit® Connected! kit.

All of us can benefit from increased physical activity. Getting started can be the hardest part, but it’s important to remember that we all start somewhere. Make sure to have fun with your exercise routine and reward yourself when you meet your goals!

Wishing you good health,

Dr. Steve Jacobson, Medical Director

Improved sense of well-being and self-esteem

Try practicing your balance every day by standing on one leg. Hold on to a chair or other sturdy objects to help if you feel unsteady.

Healthy Aging Exercises ENDURANCE ACTIVITIES

STRENGTH TRAINING

BALANCE EXERCISES

FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES

Endurance activities increase your breathing and heart rate, and help you:

• Keep up with your grandchildren during a trip to the park.

• Dance to your favorite songs at the next family wedding.

• Rake and bag up the leaves.

Strength training uses resistance to help build muscle strength, and makes it easier to:

• Lift your carry-on bag into the overhead bin of the airplane.

• Carry groceries in from the car.

• Pick up bags of mulch.

Balance exercises strengthen leg and core muscles to improve your stability and help you:

• Turn around quickly when you’re on a walk and hear a bicycle bell behind you.

• Walk along a cobblestone path without losing your balance.

• Stand on tiptoe to reach a top shelf.

• Avoid falling on stairs or tripping over objects.

Flexibility exercises lengthen muscles to make it easier to:

• Bend down to tie your shoes.

• Look over your shoulder as you’re backing out of the driveway.

• Clean hard-to-reach areas of the house.

Improved sense of well-being and self-esteem

Aim for 30 minutes a day—this can be broken up throughout the day.

Exercise both your upper and lower body at least twice per week for 30 minutes, but don’t exercise the same muscle group on any 2 days in a row.

Improved sense of well-being and self-esteem

Perform each stretch 3 to 5 times and hold your position for 10 to 30 seconds for maximum impact.

More information on the benefits of these activities can be found at go4life.nia.nih.gov.

Create your membership account and get started at silverandfit.com.

National Mental Health Month It’s okay to not be okay

Premera Blue Cross observes National Mental Health Month

this May and supports the mental well-being of our members

and the community all year long by promoting whole-person

health. This integrates physical and behavioral health for the

wellness of the whole person; without good mental health, you

are at a higher risk for a decline in your physical health.

While the world has been grappling with COVID-19 and practicing social distancing, you may have had feelings of isolation, especially if you live alone. If you’ve experienced this, it’s important to know that you’re not alone and there are ways to cope with these unwanted feelings.

Practice Good Self-care

“Getting physical exercise in whatever ways we can, getting good sleep, and trying to eat well are all important,” says marriage and family therapist Chad Perman. “Reading a good book, listening to music you love, or seeking out other creative or artistic activities and outlets can be enormously restorative and connecting as well. Other ways to boost your mental health include:

• Begin or continue meditation or other mindfulness habits and practices. These can help us create both an internal anchor for ourselves and ground us in the present here-and-now experience.

• Send a note in the mail. Share a moment of your day or find a reason to thank someone. This is a chance to be creative with how you express yourself, and you’ll likely brighten the recipient’s day.

• Keep a gratitude journal. It can remind us of all the good that exists all around us, even in these challenging times. Written expressions of gratitude are linked to increased happiness.

National Mental Health Month One way to stay active mentally and physically is with the Silver&Fit® program which offers Healthy Aging coaching. This is offered at no extra cost to Premera Medicare Advantage members and provides valuable resources to empower members to create and enjoy the lives they want with the support of a trained health coach.* The program offers one-on-one remote sessions (phone, video, or online messaging) to guide and motivate members in lifestyle areas like:

Coaching sessions are collaborative and evidence-based, helping members to create a Healthy Aging Life Plan. Through the plan, members choose one or two areas for improvement, set specific goals, and identify steps to achieve those goals. Members may schedule one session per week to work with their coach to determine the best ongoing session frequency. The initial coaching session lasts up to 30 minutes with subsequent sessions lasting up to 15 minutes.

Being active Improving fitness and mobility through active living and exercise

Preventing social isolation

Incorporating healthy eating

Making lifestyle choices

Aging well

Learning how to develop connections and avoid isolation

Embracing healthy food choices and overcoming eating challenges

Building healthy, everyday habits for optimal well-being

Knowing one’s options to better take charge of life and health

Additional contacts and resources

No matter what you’re feeling, you don’t have to handle it alone. To find a provider who can help you with mental health concerns, contact your primary care physician (PCP), use the Find a Doctor tool found on premera.com/ma, or call the customer service phone number listed on the back of your member ID card.

Members interested in the Healthy Aging Coaching program can call Silver&Fit customer service toll-free at 1-877-427-4788 (TTY/TDD: 711) to get started.

Managing conditions Preventing illness, coping with pain, and managing health issues

*Information provided by Silver&Fit health coaches and the Silver&Fit program does not take the place of information, advice, or the recommendations of your physician/doctor or any other specialty health care provider. The Silver&Fit program is provided by American Specialty Health Fitness, Inc. (ASH Fitness), a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH). All programs and services are not available in all areas. Silver&Fit and Something for Everyone are federally registered trademarks of ASH and used with permission herein.

Serving our Communities Tax refund investments

Premera traces its roots to 1933, when it began providing health plans to customers struggling in the midst of the Great Depression. Today, Premera continues to invest across the Washington and Alaska communities we call home.

The charts to the right represent a brief snapshot of how Premera is investing $250 million in our customers, our employees, and in our communities as of February 2020.

Premera’s Social Impact makes a difference in the lives of those living in our communities. Through corporate giving, volunteering, and community engagement, we promote new partnerships and solutions to help make healthcare work better.

We invest in communities in need by concentrating on the health of the whole person. These are the core beliefs supporting our work:

• Whole-person health. Our vision of healthcare integrates physical and behavioral health for the wellness of the whole person.

• Everyone deserves quality care, especially underserved communities. Our priority is reaching and supporting care services for the people and places that need it the most.

• There are no simple solutions. Tough problems require new thinking to make progress.

• Work with and through partners creates greater impact. We’re committed to collaborating with other organizations that have shared goals.

You can learn more about Premera’s Social Impact work by visiting premera.com/socialimpact and premera.com/ruralhealth.

Investment areas

Customers

54.6%

$68.3M committed of $125M

Rural Health

55.8%

$34.9M committed of $62.5M

Social Impact

42.7%

$16M committed of $37.5M

Employees

60%

Premera Blue Cross is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. $15M committed of $25MEnrollment in Premera Blue Cross depends on contract renewal.

Wellness Benefits and Resources Premera Blue Cross Medicare Advantage members have access to great benefits! More information on these benefits and others can be found by visiting premera.com/ma.

24-Hour NurseLine

Call our free and confidential 24-Hour NurseLine to speak to a registered nurse who will listen to your concerns and help you determine the best treatment, all without having to make an appointment or step foot in a doctor’s office. Call 855-339-8123 to speak to a nurse now.

Case management

Case managers are available to provide extra support for you and your family if you experience a serious illness or injury. Call 855-339-8125 to speak to a case manager now.

Silver&Fit Program

Members have access to the no-cost Silver&Fit fitness program as part of their Premera Medicare Advantage Plan. Create your membership account and get started at silverandfit.com.

Over the counter

Members on select plans have a $50 per quarter allowance to purchase over-the-counter items through OTC Health Solutions. A catalog of covered over-the-counter items can be found on premera.com/ma under the pharmacies tab.

Orders may be placed via phone 1-888-628-2770 or by visiting cvs.com/otchs/Premera.

Fitbit

Live a more active life with Fitbit, the world’s leading app for tracking all-day activity, workouts, food, weight, sleep, and more. Find your fit with Fitbit’s family of fitness products that help you stay motivated and improve your health. Powered by Vivacity!

To find your Fitbit and receive your discount of 17% or more off Fitbit fitness products, log in to your member website at Premera.com/ma.

Helpful customer service

Our customer service team strives to answer even the most complicated questions in one call: 1-888-868-7767 (TTY/TDD: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, April 1 to September 30, or 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 days a week, October 1 to March 31. Call 1-855-339-8123 to speak to a customer service representative now.